On 26 Oct, 21:35, mdk77 wrote:
Another newbie question (probably a stupid one too). The Woolly
Bugger and Woolly Worm seem to be so similar that I wondered if it was
silly to carry both? I've tied and fished the Woolly Bugger and had
success. I've never fished a Woolly Worm. It looks pretty easy to
tie, so it wouldn't be a big deal to tie some up and try them. I need
help here, what do you think?

- Dave K.

I usually carry both, but in various sizes and colours to imitate
various things. I have had a lot of trout on various woolly buggers,
and some very large Grayling as well. This is my favourite grayling
bugger;

http://www.mike-connor.homepage.t-on...ly_bugger.html

but it also works well for trout. A red tailed version seems to have
edge for trout though. I do use some buggers with marabou tails, but
mostly I prefer to use Arctic fox hair. It is just as mobile, but a
lot more robust.

Woolly worms work quite well for perch, which often "come short" to
marabou tailed buggers. Perch are "chasers", and will often nip at the
rear of a fly without being hooked.

The Bugger is the most versatile fly, and as others have already
pointed out may be dressed in a very large number of variations to
imitate all sorts of things.

The woolly worm is less versatile, but it does have its uses on
occasion. I like a brown version with a badger hackle, and a green
version with grizzly hackle has also been good on occasion.

There are lots of variations;
http://www.flytyingworld.com/PagesE/...rmbeadhead.htm

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...rs/part12.html

http://www.centralflies.com/woolly-b...orm-flies.html

One may use these flies as either imitators or attractors, depending
on dressing and presentation. There are hundred of variations of each.
I prefer to use imitators, and most of my buggers are dressed to
imitate some specific food item, like bullheads, damsel nymphs, and
similar things.

A weighted and clipped woolly worm in the appropriate colours makes a
very good cased caddis imitation, and can sometimes be very successful
indeed. There are some fish which specialise in feeding on such
things, and are rarely if ever caught on dry flies, or other nymphs
etc.

One could hold forth at length on the subject.

Gary Soucie has written a very good book on the subject, and there are
even a couple of my flies in it!

http://globalflyfisher.com/reviews/b...gle.php?id=105

TL
MC